Effects of Alcohol on the Body and the Brain

Prolonged alcohol use has a serious effect on nearly every organ in the body. While some effects are irreversible, many can be fixed over time with the right treatment and care. If you or a loved one is suffering from alcohol addiction, please seek help as soon as possible to prevent any further physical deterioration.

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Heavy alcohol use can also cause problems at home, at work, and with friends. If you have questions about whether it is safe for you to drink, talk with your health care provider. Those who drink occasionally tend to recover once they are sober.

Understanding Alcohol’s Effects

Alcohol can influence the effectiveness of medications, including sleeping pills, blood thinners, and some antidepressant and antianxiety drugs, according to the NIAAA and National Institute on Aging. Any medications that can cause drowsiness, such as antianxiety or sleeping medications, some antidepressants and antihistamines, and many others, can increase alcohol intoxication https://ecosoberhouse.com/ when you drink. Be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist if any of the medications you take can have this effect. For most people, intoxication begins to occur after two to three drinks, but it can occur more quickly, with fewer drinks in a lighter person. Keep in mind that the alcohol content of different types of beer, wine, and distilled spirits can vary a lot.

Coffee or a cold shower will sober you up if you’re drunk. It takes approximately two hours for each ounce of alcohol effects of alcohol on the body to work its way out of your bloodstream. A mixed drink contains more alcohol than beer, wine or wine coolers.

Medications and other drugs

People older than age 65 who drink alcohol should limit themselves to no more than 1 drink a day. Compared with the United States population in general, the Native American population is much more susceptible to alcohol use disorder and related diseases and deaths. From 2006 to 2010, alcohol-attributed deaths accounted for 11.7 percent of all Native American deaths, more than twice the rates of the general U.S. population. The median alcohol-attributed death rate for Native Americans (60.6 per 100,000) was twice as high as the rate for any other racial or ethnic group. Males are affected disproportionately more by alcohol-related conditions than females.